Holiday Crafts for Gifting or Profit

The holiday season is here and it’s a great time for gifting or selling homemade pet-themed crafts!  These nifty tips will inspire you to create pet-themed gifts your friends & family will love. Follow Your Crafting Bliss! Identify your talent—Are you a master chef? Then maybe tasty dog treats thoughtfully gifted in decorative mason jars are your talent.  Do you like to sew or knit? Your furry friends will love to snuggle under a homemade dog blanket or in a cozy hand-knitted dog sweater. Is woodworking your talent?  Why not make a comfy dog bed frame or whimsical toy your pup’s favorite toys?

Find Fun Ideas for Holiday Crafts!  

Once you decide the type of craft you would like to make, browse books, magazines, and the internet for creative and similar holiday crafts ideas.  Look at patterns, recipes, and design specifications made by creative crafters for inspiration. And then…

Add Your Own Unique Twist to Your Holiday Crafts!

The “unique twist” is the little difference you add to your craft that sets it apart from what other people are making and gifting or selling.  How do you discover your “unique twist”? Start by asking yourself “What can I add or take away from this design that will make the product more useful, safer, more fun, longer wearing, or more visually appealing?” Keep in mind that often a simple change (such as using a different folding technique for your doggy bowties, or adding a dog-friendly spice to your doggy treats) is all it may take to make your product stand out from the rest. And then…

Do a Safety Check…

Baking dog treats? Research to make sure your ingredients are non-toxic and healthy.  Making a dog toy? Are there any parts a heavy chewer will be able to eat through or swallow?  Building furniture? Check to make sure paints and stains used are non-toxic and there are no sharp edges.  Try to imagine the possible ways Fido may use the product outside of its intended use, then review your product to be sure that a dog’s unintended use will not cause safety concerns. Finally…

Do a Test Run with Furry Friends…

One of the best ways to test safety, durability and visual or taste appeal of holiday crafts is to try it out under close supervision with your dog and his or her canine friends!  Make prototypes of your products, give them to your friends to try on their dogs over a period of time and ask them for a review. Helpful questions to ask may include:

-Is it waterproof and /or weather resistant?

-Do dogs find my homemade treats readily appealing?

– Does my product maintain its shape and coloring through multiple washings?

To Gift or to Sell? 

After making and testing your DIY dog-themed item, it’s time to decide whether you’ll give your awesome holiday crafts to friends and family, or if you’d like to take the next steps and become a business. When making this big d decision it helps to check back in with your motivation (your crafting bliss!).  Will you still enjoy baking, sewing, or woodworking under time and production deadlines? Will you like the administrative parts of selling a product, such as keeping track of inventory and book keeping? Can you set a wholesale and retail price for your product that covers costs and generates a worthwhile profit?  Would you lead a well-balanced and healthy life while running a full-time or side-gig craft business? Can you accommodate the procedures and costs of complying with city, county, state and federal laws related to selling your product? And will doing all these things be fulfilling for you?

Whether you decide to craft for gifting or selling, the dogs in your life will surely appreciate the great pet-themed gifts you make especially for them!